Great question! The answer is multifaceted, and still being debated. Very simply, it is the primary material from which we are made. It comprises of a global network of communication, and is found ubiquitously-or everywhere inside of us. It envelops, protects and penetrates our muscles, ligaments tendons organs and even bones. There isn't a single millimetre of the body that isn’t joined with or made of fascia. It changes density and function depending on where it is found, and its texture ranges from thick, stable and rigid, to soft, thin and watery. In some places in the body, it can look like candy floss. It is comprised of collagen and elastin fibres, and gives us all our unique body shape. Fascia is a sensing organ and our main organ of proprioception, which is how we modulate where our body is in space as we move. It manages force transmission through the body at all times. It's a container, and a communicator. 

If you are a visual person, the first link will allow you to see through the eyes of French Hand Surgeon, Jeanne-Claude Gimberteau. Having obtained permission pre- surgery to place a small camera under the skin of his anaesthetised patient, he was able to film in real time, the complex web of this liquid crystaline matrix in the video Strolling Under The Skin. WARNING: this is living tissue, so if you'd rather not see that, or prefer to read a more detailed and academic description of fascia, click on second link to a paper co-written by my teacher, Clinical Anatomist John Sharkey and colleague and Neuromuscular Therapist, Mark Flannigan.

https://youtu.be/k6FaULbOmnE?si=hXKmtdqCm1sda-a3

https://scidoc.org/IJAAP-2572-7451-09-101.php

Neuromuscular Therapy is an integrated healing approach which incorporates soft tissue techniques from osteopathy, chiropractic, naturopathy, trigger-point therapies. It employs massage and sustained pressure to relieve the pain which myofascial trigger points can cause, and blends this with muscle energy techniques, such as PIR (post isometric relaxation) and INIT (integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique) to restore appropriate neuromuscular balance and control. Medical exercises as take aways for the client ensure that this improved neuromuscular functionality can be fully supported by the client allowing for positive movement repatterining. 

A myofascial trigger point refers to a very tender point or knot in a muscle belly which can either cause local or referred pain. If you press a sore point in your shoulder area, you may experience a pain in your head for example. This is very common. These trigger points can form for a variety of reasons, including over use of muscles, dysfunctional movement patterns, or strains and injury. They form when some of the muscle fibres stay tightened or shortened for too long causing a contracture leading to restricted blood flow, compromised circulation and increased pain. Neuromuscular therapy aims to identify the myofascial trigger points, address them with muscle energy techniques and restore optimal length and load to the muscles, thus restoring pain free movement.

Structural Integration (SI) is is the term given to a field of therapy developed by Ida Rolf. Rolfing then became the trademarked name owned by the Rolfing Institutes in Germany Colorado. The modality is a whole body and holistic approach to postural re-education. SI feels different to massage. It involves working synergistically with the Therapist and combines therapeutic strokes with directed movement from the client. SI in this format, is a 6 series protocol in which the Therapist follows It aims to release the fascia/connective tissues, improve glide and hydration in these structures, and optimise ease of movement creating a sense of spaciousness and a more refined inner/somatic awareness.